It is very common in UK churches now and for many centuries past to expect a church to have a single full time pastor (paid elder/ vicar/ minister). There are good reasons for this, but in this post I suggest that there would be significant gains to moving to a model where pastors work part … Continue reading Proposal for encouraging part time pastors
Author: joshmont2017
I am a child of God through Jesus' sacrifice and victory. Husband to Karuna, father to four children, staff elder at Emmanuel Church Northstowe, and Course Director for Training for East Anglia Ministry. All views here my own and do not necessarily represent the views of organisations I work for.
Chrysostom on why ordinary Christians need to read the Bible even more than monks
(This is why reading church history makes you Protestant!) I always entreat you, and do not cease entreating you, not only to pay attention here to what I say, but also when you are at home, to persevere continually in reading he divine Scriptures... Do not let anyone say to me those vain words, worthy … Continue reading Chrysostom on why ordinary Christians need to read the Bible even more than monks
Bible in song
The word of God is something that we need to get into our hearts and minds if it is to do us good. And music is one good way of doing that. A friend has been working on a playlist that covers almost all the Bible- so I'm sharing it here. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2BnWrciJvbWyoUrYgYZkl4 If that seems … Continue reading Bible in song
A helpful addition on agency and raising children.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about healthy agency. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/03/26/healthy-agency/ Here is a helpful addition focusing on the practicalities of raising children with agency. https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelgrose/p/the-secret-to-raising-children-with?r=392tio&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Is this missing anything? Are there dangers in this approach I'm blind to?
Do we have to leave wisdom aside to fully follow Jesus?
"Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Proverbs 8:11. Wisdom in Proverbs is the thing to be gained above everything else. And that makes sense in everyday life. People who are wise- with work, with money, with words, with family relationships, with home, with friends- generally have better lives. To have other … Continue reading Do we have to leave wisdom aside to fully follow Jesus?
Healthy agency
God has made human beings to have agency. We were made for agency, to make choices, then act, in ways that make a difference in the world. We can see this from the first chapter of the Bible. 26 Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may … Continue reading Healthy agency
Benedict’s Rule and the modern Christian
https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/06/21/reflections-on-the-rule-of-saint-benedict/ Last year I enjoyed reading The Rule of Saint Benedict. A friend asked whether we could be shaped more by this ancient wisdom today. So here are some random reflections on that theme. Things we could learn One of the strengths of the Benedictine Rule is that life has set rhythms. This is a … Continue reading Benedict’s Rule and the modern Christian
Why it is a problem if you can’t distinguish between Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate
In the modern world, we will all be getting our own diet of news and articles served up the algorithms. Or if you mostly avoid online (and how have you read this blogpost if so) you'll get the news of your newspapers or TV shows. So I don't assume everyone will have heard of either … Continue reading Why it is a problem if you can’t distinguish between Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate
Some basic tips for parenting
With four children, I've had to think quite a lot about parenting. I've produced a parenting course for our church, and tried to apply Biblical principles to modern day parenting. But some of my views on parenting are not biblical but just based on lots of time with kids, and lots of time with families … Continue reading Some basic tips for parenting
Problems with leadership pathways
One of the themes in the Old Testament prophets is that the leaders of Israel (Prophets, priests and kings) have failed. I thought, ‘These are only the poor; they are foolish,for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.5 So I will go to the leaders and speak to them;surely they know the way … Continue reading Problems with leadership pathways
Jots and Scribbles 